Ryan slumped back onto his pillow, in complete shock with what he had just read. He was having a hard time wrapping his mind around it, but if it was due to his exhaustion or the literal jaw dropping news that had just been sent his way, he didn't know. It didn't seem to matter much, either.

All of his young life, he had been told that his grandfather had been a great hero who thwarted the evil ambitions of a madman named Balthazar Aced and saved the world, while his son Elezar sought to avenge the death of his father. Elezar then used his connections to have James taken out and then plotted to use Balthazar's research to further his mad dreams. Michael intervened and was thus "branded" by him, only to return and crush Giselle in battle. But now, all of the truth that he had known was flipped upside down. Balthazar was never a mad scientist, nor was he an evil man in the slightest. He was actually the one who proposed a way to overcome the Crimson Madness that impacted Arcana every fifteen years. He was his grandfather's best friend and even loved the man, but was tricked by this 'corporeal being' into using the power of the Crimson Fury to try and change himself. But Balthazar never needed to change and James Kingston knew that. Balthazar even gave his own life to save the world from the wrath of the being that Ryan suspected was this "Grand Master" that Jocelyn had mentioned the night prior.

But at what cost? Elezar hijacked his father's research to make himself more powerful and those who had stood in his way, James Kingston and Michael Kingston, were monstrously removed from the equation. The side opposing the Syndicate was far weaker than the one that supported them and even the defection of Jocelyn did little to change that. All of Balthazar's sacrifices really amounted to nothing in the end, with another Crimson Fury set to come in a little over a week and Elezar running amok all across Arcana with his plans. Ryan bitterly sat there as all of this information had been revealed too late for it to impact what had already transpired.

When Holly awoke later that day, he revealed to her what he had read about Balthazar. She was intrigued by his findings and nearly brought to tears when he told her how Balthazar had sacrificed himself to save Arcana from the ruinous machinations of a powerful being, after telling James how much he had meant to him. However, she too came to the similar conclusion that he had: that while this information was definitely game changing, had it been revealed sooner, it might have made a difference. But now, Elezar and his band of lunatic followers had the reins over Arcana and it was not going to change unless the Kingstons made themselves ready for war.

"It's a shame that we only learned this now" Holly said solemnly. "Do you think that there is still a chance for Elezar to change his ways?"

"I doubt it" Ryan said plainly. "The way that Jocelyn spoke about him last night, I don't think there's any chance for redemption for him."

Holly frowned. "Then I guess it's really coming to war."

Ryan nodded. "And it's one that we can't afford to lose." With that, Ryan's Poké Gear began to ring. He quickly answered it when he saw that Julia was calling him. "Julia?"

"Ryan" Julia called to the boy on the other line. "Have you heard from Jocelyn?"

"I met her last night in Piper's Penthouse" Ryan told her.

"Good" Julia replied. "Then she told you about what's coming today?"

"The Syndicate Snatchings?"

"That's it. We need to make sure that we are ready for whatever the Syndicate is hoping to throw your way." She took a deep breath. "We just got off of a call with your Mom. She's picked up your Dad and is taking him back to Parlor Town to rest. When you beat Renee and get your eighth Gym Badge, we're going to activate the KERN and call all of the Kingstons to Kingston Castle to prepare for battle. Most of the family is already on their way here, which makes this place pretty much impregnable. We just need you to reach out to Matthew to tell him to meet with you guys. You two, Renee, Holly and Tommy are going to fly to the Castle and we're going to deliberate our plans."

"What about Jocelyn?" Ryan asked.

"Jocelyn and Big Mike are working on a project in the Seaside Caverns for us" Julia said faintly. "They hope to be bringing us a miracle, but I've had my fill with miracles. We need action. They will join up with us after you guys arrive here."

"Okay, Julia" Ryan told her. "I'll get on the horn with Matt and we'll hash things out." With that, Ryan ended the call to make another to his brother.

He patiently waited for Matt to answer, until he finally answered on the fifth ring. "Hullo?"

"Matt?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"We've got big news" Ryan called to him. "The Kingstons are readying for battle. We're going to be called back to Kingston Castle really soon."

"That's not really news, but okay" Matthew said bizarrely on the other line. "When are we supposed to be there?"

"I'll be heading to meet up with Renee and get my Eighth Gym Badge very soon" he told his brother. "When I'm done, we're going to head together to the Castle." He took a deep breath before asking the question that worried him the most. "Any news on Addison?"

"Nothing good" Matthew said bitterly. "It's almost like the Syndicate just vanished with her. But I'm not giving up. I'll find her."

"Julia said that she wants us to head to the Castle together" he reiterated to Matt. "You should come to Titanio City to meet us. But be careful. There's supposed to be another mass Syndicate Snatching Raid today. Be on your guard."

"I should say the same to you" Matthew cautioned. "If you're going to go to Renee's Gym, you should really go alone."

Ryan was puzzled by this. "Wait, why?"

"I should think it's obvious" Matt reasoned. "Holly and Tommy aren't really that strong of trainers. Have them stay where you guys are now and I'll come to get them before we all leave for the castle. That way, the Syndicate can only really target a trainer who will mop the floor with them if they do."

"Cool" Ryan said. "I'll have Holly text you when they're ready."

"Sounds like a plan" Matthew said briskly. "Good luck, Ry." With that, he hung up the call.

"You're really gonna make us stay here?" Holly asked bitterly.

"You know about the massive Snatching Raid that's supposed to happen" Ryan warned her, putting his Poké Gear back into his pocket. "I should be able to get in and out of the Gym easier by myself." He shrugged to himself. "You know, if I find it."

"It's too dangerous for you to go out on your own" Holly said worriedly. "I don't care what Matt says. It's not a good idea for you to be going out there alone."

Ryan shook his head. "Holly, I'm not going to let the Syndicate abduct you guys too. No way. If they go after me, it will be live bait so that Matt can go in and make sure you guys get out safely." He took Holly's hand. "I already lost Addison. I'm not going to lose anyone else on this journey."

"But we don't want to lose you either, Ryan" Holly countered. "Think about it."

Before Ryan could answer, Tommy pole-vaulted himself out of bed. "It's morning!"

"Tommy, we have to talk-" Ryan tried to explain to the boy, but Tommy's endless energy already had him careening for the door.

"We can talk later" he cheered. "Come on, let's go find that Gym!" With that, the boy was out the door."

"Tommy!" Holly cried, before shaking her head. "He's too much." She then pulled Ryan up to standing beside her. "Looks like Tommy already made the decision for us. We're going with you to the Gym."

Ryan was about to argue, but rolled his eyes and pulled his hand out of Holly's grasp. "Fine, but you have to tell Matthew that you're coming with me."

"I just need to put on some makeup" Holly told her friend before slipping into the bathroom. "Make sure you catch Tommy and I'll talk to Matt."

Ryan sighed and made his way for the door and out into the hallways of Titanio Hotel. He tried to follow the shouting that Tommy would no doubt be doing in the morning, but could not seem to hear him this time. The boy had gotten much farther than he could have anticipated. He took the elevator down to the main lobby and finally found the boy harassing the desk clerk about where the Aquarium was. The woman seemed eager to drill a pencil into her ears instead of listening to Tommy pester her with questions.

"Where is the Aquarium?" he asked as if he was in a sugar rush.

Ryan grabbed Tommy's arm and hauled him away from the clerk. "What is wrong with you?"

Tommy looked innocently towards Ryan. "I just want to see you get your eighth Gym Badge."

The clerk looked at Ryan in surprise. "You're a Gym Challenger?"

"Yeah" Ryan told her. "I only need this Gym Badge before I can qualify for the Pokémon League."

"Well that changes everything" she replied, her mood completely flipping around. She handed him a brochure for the Titanio Aquarium. "You can't miss it. It's down by the docks. You'll know it when you see it."

Ryan paused as he looked at the brochure. "We really should wait for Holly." Before he could even finish his sentence, Tommy was already out the door looking for the Aquarium.

"If you'd like" the clerk told him, "I can tell her where you have gone. We'll give your room a courtesy call."

"Thanks, that'd be great" Ryan said cheerfully.

"What room number?"

"Room 413" he said.

She nodded. "I'll contact her immediately. Good luck on your challenge." Ryan saluted the clerk and hurried out into the streets after Tommy.

{Meanwhile}

Once she was certain Ryan was out of the Hotel and running after Tommy, the Clerk made for the Phone to make a call to someone. She quickly dialed up the numbers and waited for an answer.

"What is it?" the woman on the other line asked.

"Room 413 at the Titanio Hotel" she said coldly. "You'll find Holly Queensbury there."

"We're on" the woman replied. "Thanks a ton."

"My pleasure, Lena" she replied, before she hung up the phone and pretended to go back to work.

{Meanwhile}

Holly was in the bathroom of their Hotel Room, putting on her lipstick while talking to Matt on their Poké Gears. "Come on, Matt. We're perfectly capable of handling ourselves and finding some rinky old Aquarium."

"Do you have cinderblocks for ears?" Matthew asked bitterly. "It's way too dangerous."

"Well, we're going to go and root for Ryan" she insisted. "I'm surprised that you wouldn't want to be there to cheer Ryan on. He's about to get his eighth Gym Badge, after all."

"Looking for Addy takes precedence" Matthew responded angrily. "I guess if Ryan thinks he has time to play around at the gym, he's stopped worrying about her."

"Oh come on, Matt" Holly said as she finished applying her lipstick. "I don't think Jasmine would be happy if you're stressing out this much over another girl."

"Addison takes precedent" Matthew repeated coldly. "I could care less what Jasmine thinks."

This made Holly pause. "You and Jasmine couldn't get enough of each other at the Faire. Did something happen?"

"I don't want to talk about it" Matthew replied coldly.

"Okay then, Mr. Grump" she said. "Well, I need to catch up to Ryan and Tommy. I'll be seeing you at Kingston Castle."

Matthew didn't answer her.

"Matt?"

Again, there was no answer.

Holly opened the door to the bathroom. "Matthew?"

"I'm sorry, Holly" he said, in an emotionless breath.

"Sorry for wha-MMPH!" she screamed, but a hand quickly flew over her mouth and another grabbed her wrist and pulled it behind her back. The Poké Gear fell from her hand as Matthew ended the call.

"Looky what we got here, Lily?" the voice of Lena snickered behind the frightened girl. "A precious little princess without her knights to protect her."

Holly looked towards the other Syndicate Snatcher, Lily, sitting on Ryan's bed. "Oh but she shouldn't worry. We've got a whole castle she can rule and play in. But we tend to call it a compound." Lily came at her with a coil of rope and roll of duct tape in her hands.

Holly flailed about in a panic, trying to free herself from Lena's grip, but her captor held firm. She could only watch as Lily yanked her hands in front of her and began to tie them together with rope. Once her wrists were secured, she again watched in terror as Lily came at her with several pieces of duct tape and quickly covered the girl's mouth before she could scream for help. As Holly tried desperately to wrestle with her captors, she saw in the mirror of their hotel room how Lena was coming at her with a blunt object of some kind, but she only felt it's blow on her head for a second, before she whited out.

{Meanwhile}

Ryan finally caught up to Tommy as the boy gazed into the clear blue waters of Titanio City for some kind of view of Renee's Gym and the Pokémon Aquarium. When Ryan was about to reprimand him for running off again, Tommy pointed out onto the open water. "There it is!"

"Where's what?" Ryan asked.

"The Aquarium!" he exclaimed, pointing far out into Titanio Bay. Ryan looked in the corner of the Bay, where a massive blue and red structure was built into the cliffs of Titanio City. That was where Renee's Gym was, far across the open water.

"If we're going to get there" Ryan suggested, "we're going to have to get someone to ferry us there or Surf there on the backs of our Pokémon."

"AVAST YE LANDLUBBERS!" a voice shouted at Ryan and Tommy from nearby. Ryan turned to see a familiar looking sailboat and a sailor with a toothpick in his mouth. He smacked his belly as he laughed. "Ye boys look like ye need a lift."

"Ralph!" Ryan exclaimed, hurrying over to shake the sailor's hand. "You fixed your boat?"

"Aye, Laddie" the sailor answered happily. "A bit o' thanks I owe to Professor Pines. She lent me the doubloons to repair me ship, and now I make a little bit on the side ferrying trainers to Renee's Gym in the meantime. A sailor's life be never one indebted, least of all to a friend the likes Professor Pines."

Ryan reached into his wallet. "How much do we owe you for a trip?"

He waved his hands. "Save yer pennies, lad. Friends o' mine never pay for the service."

"Wow!" Tommy exclaimed. "A real Pirate!"

Ralph laughed. "I see ye've recruited a little scallywag into yer ranks." He looked around for someone else, surprised that she wasn't there. "But where be that young lass that was with ye, boy?"

Ryan lowered his head. "She was kidnapped by the Syndicate. If I can beat Renee, I'll be able to fight for Addison's freedom against them."

The sailor was surprised at the news, but nodded proudly at Ryan's proclamation. "Aye, Laddie! And ye be just the scurvy dog to rescue the fair maiden from the jaws o' the Kraken!" He welcomed the boy on board his ship. "All friends o' the seas are friends o' mine and I intend to make good on my promise to Professor Pines." Ryan and Tommy hopped on board of the ship.

Ryan was confused when he didn't see Ralph's team of Machokes on deck. "What happened to your crew, Captain?"

"On holiday" Ralph laughed. "Besides, I get around a lot quicker this way." He showed Ryan and Tommy that his sailboat had now been outfitted with a high-powered motor. "While I do prefer the winds and sounds o' the sea, this motor makes me life far easier." With one pull, the motor sounded off and Ralph leaped up to the helm to steer the boys into Titanio Bay and towards the Aquarium.

Tommy held his head over the edge of the boat like a dog would out of a moving car. "This is soooo cool! I wish Holly was here to see this!"

Ryan paused. He hadn't heard from Holly in a bit. He decided to ring her up on the Poké Gear, but while he called her, she didn't answer. He hung up the call and guessed she was still working on her makeup. The sailboat made it from the docks to the Aquarium in record time, only about 3 minutes. "Wow, that boat is fast."

"Aye lad" Ralph told him. "She be as fast as a Sharpedo and as deadly as one too." He looked at his own Poké Gear and laughed. "Ho ho! Looks like ye lot aren't the only ones looking for a ferry here. "I'll be right back. Bout to bring another group o trainers here." He saluted Ryan and Tommy and got back into his boat and departed back into the bay.

When Ralph was gone, Ryan and Tommy made their way up the white stair case and into the Aquarium. Though it looked more like a pet store than an Aquarium, with most of the tanks only filled with unevolved and smaller Water Pokémon. Tommy gleefully watched all of the fish in the main entrance and soon found himself playing with a Horsea that practically skated through the water.

"Come on, Tommy" Ryan called to the boy. "We've got to find Renee."

Tommy looked at Ryan with the saddest puppy dog eyes. "But I want to play with the Horsea!"

Ryan rolled his eyes. "Okay. But you cannot leave this room under any circumstances, okay?"

Tommy nodded. "I promise, Ryan."

"Okay" Ryan said before he pushed through two huge double doors and found himself in an arena where Water Pokémon performed for audiences. He was about to leave the room as the wrong one, when he spotted his step-cousin playing with one of her Water Pokémon in the pool. He hurried down to see her.

Renee was Shannon's daughter with her first husband, but was adopted by Jeice when he married her mother and welcomed her and her older sister Katrina into the Kingston Family. As such, Renee didn't have any of the distinguishing Kingston looks. She had dark red colored hair and a much more relaxed feeling about her. Despite being quite introverted, spending time with her stepsiblings Chris and Cam had definitely helped to take her out of her shell, though she preferred the company of her Water Pokémon, such as her Floatzel and her Swampert.

She was actually playing with her Floatzel when she noticed Ryan coming up to her. "Hey, Ry. I've been expecting you."

Ryan waved happily to her. "Hi, Renee. And I've been looking forward to battling you."

Renee tossed her Floatzel a Poffin and stood up to face her cousin. "Well, if you want, I can just give you the Titan Badge so that we can go to Kingston Castle now."

Ryan shook his head proudly. "No way, Renee. I want to prove that I can beat you."

Renee shrugged. "Okay, then. Just know that I don't lose very easily."

"When was the last time you lost?" Ryan asked curiously.

"Not this season" she said.

Ryan paused. Didn't Matthew say that he beat her? He shook off the idea as him simply misremembering his brother's words and nevertheless made his way to his side of the Pokémon Gym. Renee did the same as she made it to her side and looked towards her cousin.

"No matter what happens, just know that it doesn't mean that we're not still going to Kingston Castle together. I need to do what's right by the family though and give you one final test. Let's see if you can tame the mighty oceans!"

Ryan laughed. "That quote isn't you."

Renee shrugged. "I had to give it a try. Well, here we go! Come on out, Mantine!" From out of her first Poké Ball appeared a giant floating manta ray with an almost incurable smile on her face. Renee folded her arms. "Your move."

Ryan looked towards his team of six Pokémon and decided who should go out first against the Mantine. "Go! Sparks!" His trusted and loyal Jolteon emerged from his Poké Ball and barked at the Mantine. "Now, use Thunderbolt!" Ryan's Jolten prepared to shoot a massive volley of electrical energy at the Mantine, which would no doubt KO it in one shot if it hit.

Unfortunately for him, she was prepared. "Mantine, Use Aqua Ring!" The Mantine surrounded itself in a thick veil of protective water to shield itself from the Electrical attack. Sparks terrific Thunderbolt was essentially reduced to being a dud as it struck at the veil, but did little to the Mantine. Now, she was going to go onto the offensive. "Now, Mantine! Use Water Pulse!" The Mantine spat a huge pulse of aquatic energy at the Jolteon.

"Sparks! Use Double Team!" Sparks created illusory copies of itself, causing the Water Pulse to strike and hit the wrong Jolteon.

"Impressive" Renee said. "But we're going to have to be able to land an attack on the other somehow."

"I couldn't agree more" Ryan replied eagerly. "Sparks! Use Return!" The Jolteon rushed quickly at the Mantine and struck at it with the combined power of it's friendship with Ryan. The blow was devastating to the Mantine, who collapsed and fainted in one shot. Ryan grinned. "One down and two to go."

Renee recalled her Mantine and reached for her second Pokémon. "Go! Swampert!" From out of her second Poké Ball appeared a big blue Mud Fish that barked at Sparks. "And if you're going to make this one tough on me, I guess I'd better bring out the big guns first!" She revealed the Key Stone on her wrist and used it to Mega Evolve her Swampert. Now, the once relatively scrawny Mud Fish was huge, with massive forearms and an even louder roar for Sparks to face.

"I guess we'll have to have a Battle of the Megas then" Ryan exclaimed. He recalled his Jolteon and sent out his Pidgeot, Marahute, who immediately reacted to his Key Stone and Mega Evolved herself. The Mega Pidgeot now squared off against the Mega Swampert.

"Go Swampert!" Renee shouted. "Use Ice Beam!"

"Marahute! Use Whirlwind!" As the Swampert launched a powerful Ice attack her way, Marahute used the forces of the wind itself to reflect the attack right back at the Swampert. Because of his Ground subtype, he was unable to easily absorb the hit and fell to his knees. Ryan went on the offensive again. "Marahute! Use Air Slash!" The Pidgeot prepared a devastatingly powerful wind cutting move, but once again, Renee was prepared.

"Swampert! Use Rock Slide!" The Swampert launched a huge boulder at Marahute, striking her in the head and causing her to fall to the ground, dazed and confused. Renee pounced on the moment. "Now! Use Ice Beam!" The Swampert's devastating Ice attack struck home this time and Marahute fell in battle. Ryan recalled one of his most powerful Pokémon and realized that Renee had just evened the score between them.

"I should have known I was taking it too easy on you" Ryan remarked. "Go! Achilles!" Ryan sent out his third potential Pokémon for the match: his Gallade. Despite still being down about Galatea's disappearance, the Gallade was keen on getting his inner aggression out in this match.

"Swampert! Use Scald!"

Achilles! Use Leaf Blade!"

The Swampert spat an immeasurably hot liquid at Achilles, who simply punched the water out of existence and slammed into the Swampert with his Leaf Blades. With the devastating combo, Renee's most powerful Pokémon fell quickly. As Renee recalled her Pokémon, she whistled for her final Pokémon to take the center stage. The Floatzel, who had been watching the match from the corner, leaped in front of Renee and barked at the opponent.

"Floatzel! Use Return!"

"Achilles! Use Leaf Blade!"

The two Pokémon clashed with one another in the middle of the ring. But whether it was his distracted emotions or the Floatzel's bond with Renee, Achilles lost the clash and was sent nearly 40 feet backwards by the power of Renee's Pokémon. Achilles recovered, but looked drained physically.

"Then I guess we'll just have to go down fighting!" Ryan insisted. "Achilles! Use Close Combat!"

"Floatzel! Use Return!"

Once again the Floatzel and Gallade clashed in the middle of the ring, exchanging a series of vicious blows with the other. But this time, both of them delivered a crushing blow to the other. Both were flung several feet backward, but only Floatzels was strong enough to provide a knockout blow, though Achilles did managed to do colossal damage to the Floatzel. As Achilles fainted beside Ryan, Ryan recalled his last Pokémon for the battle. "It's all you, Sparks!" His Jolteon leaped back into the fray.

Renee looked to her completely fatigued Floatzel and sighed. "Looks like I surrender."

This caught Ryan by surprise. "Huh? You surrender?"

She nodded. "My Floatzel is my closest friend in the world. I don't think I could bear to see you knock it out so brutally." She pet the fatigued otter and reached into her pocket to give Ryan the Titan Badge. "Besides, you took down my Swampert. I was counting on him to win the match for me, so I guess I'll just have to give you this."

Ryan was about to argue, but realized he was about to get a Gym Badge after a great battle and hurried to her side with Sparks by his side. He took the Titan's Badge from her and he and Sparks leaped in the air to celebrate! "YAHOO! I'VE GOT THE TITAN'S BADGE!"

"That's eight Gym Badges" Renee remarked. "Congratulations. You've proven that you're ready for the Pokémon League."

Ryan nodded. "But we've got more important things to worry about."

Renee smiled. "I agree. I'm going to heal my Pokémon. Then, we'll head out to Kingston Castle."

"We should wait for Matt and my friends to show up" Ryan suggested. "Julia said she wanted us to go together."

Renee shrugged. "Alright. We'll wait then." Renee then recalled her Floatzel and made her way for the Healing Machine she had in her own private chambers, while Ryan and Sparks happily looked at each other.

"We did it, buddy" Ryan said to his formerly timid Eevee.

Sparks leaped into his trainer's arms and licked his face. Ryan laughed and embraced the Jolteon, despite how sharp and pointy his fur was becoming. He then put the Pokémon down and looked down at him. "It's not over yet though. We're going to go back to Kingston Castle so we can talk to Julia and the others about a plan to rescue Addy. Are you ready to save your sister and Addison?"

Sparks barked approvingly and leaped into the Poké Ball that Ryan used to recall him. "Thanks, Sparks. I know I can always count on you." Ryan hurried back up the steps towards the Aquarium. He paused when he saw Tommy rushing back and forth with the Horsea in the tank. He laughed to himself. "What are you doing?"

"I'm playing with the Horsea!" he said cheerfully as he darted across after the small aquatic Pokémon once again.

"Where's your sister?" Ryan asked.

"I haven't heard from her" Tommy said, almost absent-mindedly.

"That's not like her" Ryan said, his worries beginning to rise. "I'm going to call her. Come on, we're heading out in a minute."

"Gimme five minutes" Tommy pleaded.

"I'll give you two!" Ryan said stubbornly, as he headed out of the Aquarium and back onto the stairs heading out onto the open water. He began trying to dial his Poké Gear and contact Holly, but paused when he saw what was ahead of him in the shallow waters that were by the stair case leading into the gym.

Ralph's Boat was there, but the sailor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a big intimidating man stood on the boat, his face draped in scowl. He wore the same clothes as his partner, who's face Ryan remembered all too well from their encounter in the Flower Sanctuary. Nadine stood on the steps, grinning menacingly at the young trainer and her eyes full of dangerous intent.